Following are links to important resources regarding music licensing and publishing, Independent music support, and industry affiliations and partnerships.
1. MUSIC LICENSING AND PUBLISHING:
a) MECHANICAL AND SYNCHRONIZATION LICENSES:
CMRRA: The Canadian Musical Reproduction Rights Agency Ltd. (CMRRA)
http://www.cmrra.ca
The CMRRA is a non-profit music licensing agency, which represents the vast majority of music copyright owners (usually called music publishers) doing business in Canada. (For American or international titles, please see the SongFile link below.)
On their behalf, CMRRA issues licenses to users of the reproduction right in copyrighted music. These licenses authorise the reproduction of music in CD's and cassettes (usually called " mechanical licensing") and in films, television programs and other audio-visual productions ("synchronisation licensing"). Licensees pay royalties pursuant to these licenses to CMRRA and, in turn, CMRRA distributes the proceeds to its publisher clients. The publisher in turn distributes the songwriter's portion of such revenues to the songwriter involved. We recommend that all licensing in Canada be pursued with them first as their method of securing licenses has proven to be faster and more reliable than contacting each publisher directly. However, if you have a formal distributer in the United States, please contact Harry Fox immediately below.
(Downloaded the CMRRA's latest "Pay As You Press" Information Package and Application)
SongFile: (Agent for Harry Fox Agency for smaller run licensing)
http://www.Songfile.com/
If you would like to obtain a license to make and distribute within the U.S. 2500 or less copies of a recording, you can now get an Harry Fox Agency mechanical license through them.
B) MUSIC PUBLISHING IN CANADA:
THE COPYRIGHT BOARD OF CANADA:
http://www.cb-cda.gc.ca/info/act-e.html
SOCAN: The Society of Canadian Authors and Music Publishers of Canada
http://www.socan.com
http://www.sodrac.com (French equivalent)
Become a SOCAN member, discover how your music can earn performing rights royalties, research Canadian funding organisations and music schools, read the latest industry news, and more.
American Society of Composers Authors and Publishers (ASCAP)
http://www.ascap.com/index.html
ASCAP is a membership association of over 190,000 U.S. composers, songwriters, lyricists, and music publishers of every kind of music. Through agreements with affiliated international societies, ASCAP also represents hundreds of thousands of music creators world-wide.
3. SOFTWARE LICENSING:
Before including even demo or "shareware" versions of software programmes on your
CD-ROM, please consult the following links to ensure compliance:
http://www.cinram.com/antipiracy/apc_links.html
2. INDEPENDENT MUSIC SUPPORT:
Grace Note (Digital Entertainment Technology)
If you register with this online database anyone connected to the internet while importing your CD can access the name of the artist, song and album title instantly. It does this by actually storing an image on your CD. It's super easy to use, especially if you have I-Tunes. This page will take you to commonly asked questions: http://www.gracenote.com/prof/music/corporate/FAQs.html/faqset=what/page=all
Nielsen Soundscan:
Nielsen SoundScan is an information system that tracks sales of music and music video products throughout the United States and Canada. Sales data from point-of-sale cash registers is collected weekly from over 14,000 retail, mass merchant and non-traditional (on-line stores, venues, etc.) outlets. Weekly data is compiled and made available every Wednesday. Nielsen SoundScan is the sales source for the Billboard music charts.
http://www.soundscan.com/register.html
Canadian Music Centre:
http://www.musiccentre.ca/home.cfm
Music Island:
http://www.musicisland.com
Songwriters Association Of Canada:
The S.A.C. works to give songwriters access to meaningful services that can help them hone their songwriting skills and develop career goals.
http://www.songwriters.ca
Canadian Conference for the Arts:
The CCA is the national forum for the arts and cultural community in Canada. Since 1945, the CCA has been advocating on behalf of artists in Canada to defend their rights, articulate their needs, and celebrate their accomplishments.
http://www.ccarts.ca/en/about/mission/
Department of Heritage:
Canadian Heritage is responsible for national policies and programs that promote Canadian content, foster cultural participation, active citizenship and participation in Canada's civic life, and strengthen connections among Canadians.
http://www.pch.gc.ca/index_e.cfm
Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences:
Home of the Junos and Canadian Music Hall of Fame, their focus is the exploration and development of opportunities to showcase and promote Canadian artists and music.
http://www.carasonline.ca/
3. PARTNERSHIPS, MEMBERSHIPS AND AFFILIATIONS:
CFIB: http://www.cfib.ca
An organization that give a strong voice and great resources to small businesses like ours.
Socan: http://www.socan.ca
(For when you want to register your music to obtain future performance royalties)
IRMA: http://www.recordingmedia.org
(The organization setting today's anti-piracy standards and requirements) For more information, please see our "Anti-piracy" page.
CPCC: http://www.cpcc.ca
(The organization which collects and distrutues monies associated with levies that are collected on blank audio media such as audio cassettes and CD-Rs)
Music Books Plus 
Your best source for music & audio books, videos, CD-ROMs, DVDs, software & sheet music. They carry over 6,000 titles on Music Business, Songwriting, Arranging, Theory, Directories, Pro Audio, Video, Live Sound, Recording, Lighting, MIDI, Synthesizers, Guitar, Keyboards, Bass, Drums, Percussion, Violin, Brass, Woodwinds, Harmonica, Voice, Biographies, Fake Books, Songbooks. Worldwide shipping.
Studio A-Mirador recommends ALL independent musicians purchase the Canadian Music Directory they publish. It features over 60 categories and almost 700 pages of listings to both major and Indie Labels, music distributers, management companies, commerical and public radio stations, and much, much more. Be empowered! buy this resource today!
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